Staten Island Lawmakers Considering Legislation to Safeguard New Yorkers from Funeral Scams

Several of Staten Island’s state lawmakers are considering legislation that would require more active oversight of New York’s funeral home industry in the wake of several borough residents being scammed out of thousands of dollars in pre-paid funeral funds.

“Funeral homes are entrusted with the responsibility of honoring the lives of those we’ve lost and supporting families through some of their most difficult days, and any misuse of those funds is a serious injustice. I do believe there must be more oversight for New York’s funeral home industry to protect the dignity of the deceased and the interests of their loved ones," said State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.

Scarcella-Spanton said her office has been in contact with the New York State Funeral Directors Association in hopes that their knowledge of the industry will provide insights into the best way to address the issue.

“Creating a more streamlined system for handling these complaints and to shed light on any misconduct would go a long way in helping my constituents, and it’s certainly legislation we should consider pursuing in the next legislative session at the state level,” she said.